Continuing the theme of my post-vacation shape up, I went home and drank my veggies for lunch in the form of a Green Monster Spinach Smoothie!

Green Monster Spinach Smoothies are one of my top secret diet weapons, because although they’re packed with baby spinach, which make my skin, hair, nails, and overall self feel totally great, they do not taste healthy at all. I repeat, they do not taste healthy at all.

PLUS!

  • Spinach is fat free, cholesterol free, low in calories, and very low in sodium
  • Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin A, C, K, iron, fiber, folate, and lutein
  • Leutin is an antioxidant that promotes good eye health, and may help prevent cancer of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate, and even dementia.
  • Dole lab tests found spinach juice has twice the chlorophyl, eight times the calcium, six times the magnesium, 10 times the potassium, 15 times the vitamin C and 43 times the vitamin A of wheatgrass juice!

Are you convinced yet? Well channel your inner Popeye and get to blending already!

First add 1 sliced frozen banana, and 1 Tablespoon peanut butter in a blender. Tip: PEEL and SLICE your bananas before you freeze them.

Next add bulking agents for staying power, like protein-packed vanilla Greek yogurt, and creamy unsweetened vanilla almond milk. You could use any kind of milk you want – cow’s, rice, soy, etc.

PS I started calling cow’s milk, well, cow’s milk, after I stopped drinking it last year in favor of almond milk and it freaks. Ben. out. So hysterical.

Fill the blender the rest of the way up with baby spinach. I think I fit about 4 cups in there today!

Start the blender on “high blend” until everything’s mixed up, then switch it over to “liquify” to get the Green Monster velvety smooth.

Pure green gold!

Green Monster Spinach Smoothie

Description

Green Monster Spinach Smoothie is packed with good-for-you ingredients — it's my favorite way to start the day! 

Ingredients

Serves 1

  • 1 frozen sliced banana
  • 1 Tablespoon peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup 0% Vanilla Chobani Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze (or other kind of milk)
  • 4 cups baby spinach (or more, or less)

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

I almost feel guilty enjoying one of these babies, as it tastes like a sweet, indulgent ice cream shake. It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch or even a snack.

Try throwing in different kinds of greens, protein powder, and any frozen fruit or berry combo under the sun. The sky’s the limit with this ultra-healthy, not-healthy-tasting Green Monster Spinach Smoothie!

*Sources: Dole, WH Foods, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center